The Price of Gas, Here and There

Published: July 7, 2000

You showcase the small minority of Europeans who benefit from lower gas prices across borders. Even more Europeans, about 20 percent, use diesel, which costs about a third less than gasoline, and diesel drivers travel about 50 percent more than others.

Over all, Europeans pay three times more for their fuel than Americans pay. They use nearly a third less fuel per mile than Americans, and on average, they drive half as many miles per person. Europeans simply don't feel the need to drive around as Americans do. The principal reason is higher fuel prices. Would the same thing happen in the United States over the long run if fuel prices remained high?

LEE SCHIPPER

Paris, July 6, 2000

The writer is a visiting senior scientist, International Energy Agency.